20/08/2012

The No Testament - Sam Carter

Like a CCTV analyst picking over each frame of footage, Sam Carter plays out his relationship dramas with an eye for detail. He does it so well and 'The One' ranks amongst his best displaying palpable tension as the meditative guitar and fluid yearning voice bring turmoil and advice: 'make sure the vow you take, is not making one to break, I made that mistake with your mother because I thought she was the one.'

However, largely defining the style and design of the album are humanitarian and spiritual motifs as Sam has discovered the American shapenote hymnbook, 'The Sacred Harp'. The Neasden Sacred Harp Singers help out on 'Antioch' and 'Garden Hymn' continues the theme with Sam Sweeney's rich and wonderful violin.

Trad wise 'Dreams Are Made Of Money' gets a modern day twist with mentions of P45's and mortgages. Then sounding closer to John Mayall the band let their hair down as natural disaster looms on 'Waves & Tremors' with Will Pound's ghostly harmonica ripping into the monster melody. Bringing it home with a nod to a hero, Nic Jones's 'Ruins By The Shore' is a solo effort before the dark gospel voices of a title track find Sam belting out the refrain, 'leave me with something that's mine', as if his life depended on it.

Full of energy and substance this is his most complete release to date.

David Kushar

http://www.samcartermusic.co.uk

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